Delaware to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 22, 2025

Planning a 795 mile interstate move from Delaware to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Delaware vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Scrapple vs Barbecue ribs), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs victorian, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Delaware), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Scrapple and Fried chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue ribs & Hot chicken
- Tennessee housing costs are 18% less expensive than they are in Delaware
- Rent in Tennessee is 9.17% more affordable than in Delaware
- Moving from Delaware to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Delaware to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Delaware to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Delaware to Tennessee
- Harsh winters
- High property taxes
- Limited space
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Milder winters
- No income tax
- Larger properties
- Lower cost of living
- Less traffic
- No ocean access
- Fewer historical landmarks
- Hotter summers
- More rural areas
- Fewer international cuisines
- Coastal attractions
- Historical sites
- Mild summers
- Close-knit communities
- Diverse dining options
Pros of moving from Delaware to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from high property taxes and moving to Tennessee with no income tax
- Swap the limited space of Delaware for larger properties in Tennessee
- Get ready for a lower cost of living in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Delaware to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from coastal attractions in Delaware to live with no ocean access in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of historical sites and have to settle for the con of fewer historical landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to mild summers and get used to hotter summers in Tennessee
- Swap close-knit communities for more rural areas
Delaware vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Delaware | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Scrapple | Barbecue ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Fried chicken | Hot chicken |
Most popular street food item | Italian water ice | Pulled pork sandwich |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan cheesesteak | BBQ jackfruit |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Delaware to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Scrapple of Delaware for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Tennessee. And while the locals in Delaware rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Italian Water Ice, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Hot Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan Cheesesteak they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Delaware eateries like Deer Park Tavern, Harry's Seafood Grill, and Iron Hill Brewery. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like The Rendezvous, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, and Prince's Hot Chicken.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Delaware. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Delaware. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Delaware and Tennessee
Comparison | Delaware | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Victorian, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Close to beaches, Energy-efficient | Large lots, Mountain views |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Delaware is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Craftsman architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Delaware's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to beaches and energy efficiency, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like large lots and mountain views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Tennessee is less walkable than Delaware.
- Tennessee is similarly bike-friendly to Delaware.
- Tennessee has less of an urban feel than Delaware.
- Tennessee housing costs are 18% less expensive than they are in Delaware, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Delawareβs $385,745.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased 63% compared to a 42% increase in Delaware.
- Rent in Tennessee is 9.17% more affordable than in Delaware.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Delaware and Tennessee
Comparison | Delaware | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Nor'easters, Hurricanes | Tornadoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 86/66 | 89/69 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45/28 | 49/30 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45" | 53" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20.2" | 5.8" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Delaware to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 5% more sunshine days than Delaware.
- Tennessee has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Delaware.
- Say goodbye to the possible nor'easters and hurricanes in Delaware, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and earthquakes in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 3 degrees warmer than in Delaware.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in Delaware.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Delaware.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Delaware and Tennessee
Comparison | Delaware | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,174 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.45 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 6.6% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.56% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 0% | 9.547% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Education | Healthcare, Agriculture, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Average |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Increasing |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 21% less than those in Delaware
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 13% lower than what you are used to living in Delaware
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is average compared to moderate in Delaware
- The poverty level is moderate in Tennessee compared to low in Delaware
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Delaware and increasing in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Delaware vs. Tennessee
Comparison | Delaware | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-majority | Republican-majority |
Local Politics | Progressive policies in urban areas | Conservative policies, strong local governance |
Religion | Mainly Christian, large Catholic community | Heavily Evangelical Christian, followed by Mainline Protestant and Historically Black Church traditions |
- Delaware tends to lean Democratic-majority in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-majority
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as heavily Evangelical Christian, followed by Mainline Protestant and Historically Black Church traditions
- Delaware's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mainly Christian with a large Catholic community
Education Guide When Moving from Delaware to Tennessee
Comparison | Delaware | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Delaware Wilmington University Delaware State University | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter School Academy of Dover | Lockeland Elementary Design Center Percy Priest Elementary Lipscomb Academy |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Newark Charter Jr./Sr. High School Sussex Academy Dover Air Force Base Middle School | Meigs Magnet Middle School Brentwood Middle School Valor Collegiate Academies |
Top 3 High Schools | Charter School of Wilmington Newark Charter High School Sussex Academy | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet School Ravenwood High School |
Top 3 private high schools | Tower Hill School Archmere Academy St. Andrew's School | Baylor School Montgomery Bell Academy The Harpeth Hall School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Tower Hill School Archmere Academy St. Andrew's School | Baylor School Montgomery Bell Academy University School of Nashville |
Top 3 School Districts | Newark Charter School District Sussex Academy District Wilmington Charter District | Williamson County School District Franklin Special School District Metro Nashville Public Schools |
How Much Do Delaware to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 795 miles from Delaware to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,653 | 300 ft3 | $5.51 |
1 Bedroom | $2,457 | 450 ft3 | $5.46 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,058 | 750 ft3 | $5.41 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,897 | 1100 ft3 | $5.36 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,497 | 1600 ft3 | $5.31 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,469 | 1800 ft3 | $5.26 |
Top Delaware to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Delaware to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for Delaware to Tennessee